The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-02-24
The Story Of a Wreck.
Thrilling and Romantic Account of
q Mutiny at Sea.
BY w. CLARK RUSSELL.
CHAPTER XX.-CoSr1NUEo.

Deering among 'em, now Stevens is
gone. I'd lay my life they'd turn to
and 90 to work just as / have, if you'd
lar by for 'em and take 'em in"
Neither ,e boatswain nor l made
any reply to this.
For my own part though had been
perishing for want of hands | would
not have trusted those villains. For
after the storm was over l had no
doubt if they found themselves on
board the GrOsvenor once more they
would lay violent hands upon me and
the bOatswain and treat US as they had
done Coxon and Duckling.
Just then the steward came with a
big coffee-pot. He set it on the sky
light, and fetched from the pantry
some good preserved meat, biscuit and
butter, and we fell to the repast with
great relish and hunger.
Being the first to finish, I took the
wheel while Cornish breakfasted, and
then ordered the steward to 90 and
make some fresh coffee, and keep it
hot in the galley, and prepare a good
breakfast for the RobertsOns, ready TO
serve when the young lady should leave
her cabin.
Bosom" said !, rs he came slowly
toward me, filling his pipe, 81 don't
like the look Of that mainsaii It'll
blow out and kick up a deuce of a
shindy. You and Cornish had better
lay aloft with some spare line and
serve the sail with it. ~
That's soon DONE" he answered,
fri An Cornish loft hio
fast, and they both went aloft
The two men remained for a short
time on the main-yard, and then came
down, leaving the sail much more Sc
cure than they had found it. Cornish
dispatched his breakfast, and the boat
swain came to Inc.
'.Do YOU see the lOng-boat now, sir?"
no." | replied; ''she's hidden in the
rain yonder. By Heaven. it is COM
ing down.
| did not eXaggerate; the horizon
was gray with rain; it looked like
steam rising from the boiling sea.
It'll keep 'em busy bailing," said
the bOatswain.
Hold on here" 1 cried, "till 1 get
my oil-skins."
| was back in a few moments, and
he went away to drape himself for the
downfall, and to advise Cornish to do
the same.
left the wheelfor a second or two to
close one of the skylights, and as | did
so flash of lightning seemed TO set the
ship on fire, and Immediately came
.deafening crash of thunder.
scarcely knew which was the more
terrifying to see and hear-the rain, or
the thunder and lightning.
1t was a cataract of water falling
from a prOdigious elevation. 1t was a
dense, impervious liquid vail, shutting
out all sight of sea or sky. 1t tore the
water into foam in striking it.
Then. boom! down it came upon us.
held on by the wheel, and the boat
swain damned himself under the graf
ing. ltwas not rain Only-it was hail
as big as eggs; and the rain-drops were
as big as eggs, too.
There was not breath of air; this
terrific fall came down in perfectly
perpendicular lines; and as the light
ming rushed through it. it Illuminated
with its CHASTITY effulgence a broad
sheet of water.
1t was so dark that l could not see
the card in the pinnacle. The water
had we shipped a sea; and for the space
of twenty minutes | stood stunned,
deaf blind. in the midst of horrible
and overpowering concert of pealing
thunder and rushing rain, the awful
gloom being rendered yet more dread
full by the dazzling flashes which passed
through it.
1t passed as suddenly as it had come.
and left us still in breathlesS calm,
-drenchcd, terrified aud motionless.
1t grew lighter 10 windward, and l
felt small air blowing on my stream
ing face; lighter still. though to leeward
the storm was raging and roaring, and
passing with its darkness like some I'M
earthly night.
squeezed the water out of my eyes.
and saw the wind come rushing toward
US upon the sea, while ali overhead
the sky was a broad, lead-colored
space.
Now, Bosom" 1 roarcd, "stand
byr'
He came out from under the graf
ing. and took a grip of the rail.
Here it comes!'' he cried; land
here comes the long-boat atop of it,
/ could only cast one brief glance in
the direction indicated. where, sure
enough, / saw the Iong-boat flying to-
ward us on a surface of foam. In an
instant the gale struck the ship and
over she heeled, laying her port bull
wark close down upon the water. But
there she stopped.
Had we had whole top-ssils," /
cried, 1T would have been Amenw
l waited 4 moment or two before
deciding whether to put the helm up
and run. If this was the worst of it,
the ship would do as she was. But in
that time the long boat, urged furious
ly forward by the sail they still kept
on her, passed close under our stern.
Twice, before she reached us, saw
them try to bring her so as to come
alongside and each time held my
breath. for / knew that the moment
they brought her broadside to the wind
she would capsize.
May God forbid that ever l should
behold such q sight again!
1t was indescribably shocking to see
them swept helplessly past within hail
of us, There were seven men in her.
Two of them cried out and raved
furiOusly, entreating with dreadful.
mad gesticulations as they whirled
past. But the rest, some clinging to
the mast, others seated with their
arms folded, were silent, like dead men
already, with fixed and staring eyes-a
gbastly crew. l saw one of the two
raving men spring onto the gunwale.